February 19, 2018
Mountain
height: 2433 m
Elevation gain: 686 m
Ascent
time: 2:25
Descent
time: 1:20
Snowshoeing
with Mark.
Mark
wisely chose to turn Sunday into his Family Day so that we could make it out to
the mountains on the real Family Day (Monday), with very promising weather
conditions.
Upon
reaching the Highway 40 turnoff we decided to continue heading west on Highway
1 and pick an objective in the Lake Louise area. Watching the outside
temperature gauge in my car made the drive a wee bit more interesting: -19
leaving Calgary, -36 approaching Castle Junction, and finally warming up to a
balmy -35 degrees Celsius upon reaching the Lake Louise parking lot. By then we
had decided that a short trip would be wise and Saddle Mountain fit the bill
perfectly. My first ascent, a couple of years and a couple months previous, had
been “almost spectacular” and with the clearer skies this ascent was almost
guaranteed to be just “spectacular”!
Thankfully
the extreme cold was not an issue for most of the ascent. We arrived at
Saddleback Pass to be rewarded with stunning views of Haddo Peak and Sheol
Mountain. SPECTACULAR it was!
The
temperature did become an issue as we gained the Saddle Mountain ridge and were
greeted by a gentle north wind. That gentle wind rendered the remainder of the
ascent perhaps the coldest we had ever experienced. I knew how severe the
temperature was when my feet went numb, even wearing my new Columbia Bugaboot Titanium
boots, rated to -43 degrees Celsius. Those boots had successfully kept my feet
toasty warm on several other viciously cold days, earlier in the season (Sanson Peak, Barrier Lake Lookout).
Nevertheless, the views were absolutely magnificent and frozen fingers and feet
were a small price to pay for those views. After taking a few photos and tolerating the cold
for as long as possible we made a hasty retreat down the mountain.Checking out
the amazing ice sculptures around the Chateau was a fitting end to the day.
Absolutely
spectacular – there’s nothing more to say!
The first open where avalanches sometimes roar down the mountain side
Looking over to the Lake Louise Ski hill
Saddle Mountain appears ahead. The summit is the lower-looking point in the centre
A bluer than blue sky over Mount Fairview
Now the true summit looks higher (as it is!)
The needle-less larches around Saddleback Pass
Finally back in the Sun and enjoying the beautiful winter scenery
Mark clears the shadow of Saddle Mountain
Last few steps to the pass
The prominent west outlier of Mount Fairview
A view of Sheol Mountain (left) and Haddo Peak, unobstructed by vile humans!
Except this one - he's pretty cool!
Jury is still out on this guy!
Mark and the easy route up Saddle Mountain (photo taken on descent)
On the wide ridge and trying to not turn into the wind
Mark follows
Almost at the summit
Heading over to the equally higher summit , a short distance away
Speaking of spectacular, "Hello Mount Temple!"
Most of the amazing summit view
...with Mount Fairview at the right
Good that someone can manage to smile when the wind chill is well below -40 degrees
Back at the summit cairn
A last look
Victoria North (left) and Collier Peak
Back at the pass
Easy descent
Mount St. Bride - one of the more difficult objectives in the Canadian Rockies
The sky is still insanely blue!
Mount Niblock (far left) and Mount St. Piran (big snowy one next to it)
Mark celebrates an awesome ascent
Mark watching some hockey on the lake
One of many amazing ice sculptures
The cliche photo of Lake Louise and its outlet
The End
